Austin Animal Center at overcrowding crisis point

Austin Animal Center at overcrowding crisis point, asking for fosters and adopters

By Kelsey Leffingwell Austin

PUBLISHED 3:56 PM CT Mar. 20, 2024 PUBLISHED March 20, 2024 @3:56 PM

AUSTIN, Texas — Due to overcrowding, the Austin Animal Center is seeking help with finding fosters and adopters.

We are devastated to tell you that we are at the critical point that we have tried to avoid for months now. If we are unable to make room for incoming dogs through foster and adoption, we will have to make hard decisions. https://t.co/L3bClLFpAu https://t.co/MKNRMf4t4Q pic.twitter.com/wWuw1XTotQ
— Austin Animal Center (@austinanimals) March 20, 2024

As of Wednesday morning at 9 a.m., AAC had 299 medium/large dogs, surpassing the maximum capacity of 272.

Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, said, “Our goal is to get as many medium/large dogs as possible into foster and adoptive homes in order to avoid issuing euthanasia notices.”

You can visit AAC any day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and if you adopt a dog, the adoption fees will be waived.

Bland added that “currently we have zero open kennels for any incoming dogs, including emergencies. We just received notification that 12 dogs from a cruelty case are on their way and we need space for them.”

Walk-in fosters are encouraged to come by anytime between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day this week. Those interested in fostering are being asked to keep the medium/large dogs for a minimum of 2 weeks.

Austin Animal Center is providing a monetary incentive to rescue partners who can bring the dogs into their programs. Rescues can contact animal.rescue@austintexas.gov for more information.